Healthy Living Blog

Monthly Archives: July 2015

After all necessary tests have been done and you have been scheduled for operation, you will have to go to the hospital early. Note that you may have to spend the whole day at the hospital. Whilst in hospital, you will be evaluated by an anesthetist. You and the anesthetist will have to decide the best type of anesthesia to be administered. Some will prefer general anesthesia which puts the patient to sleep and others a regional one which numbs the area to be operated but the patient remains awake during the surgery.

For the replacement, of the hip, prosthetic ball and socket will be used. These are usually made of different types of material. They can be made of ceramic metal or plastic. These prosthetic elements can be fitted into the hit and the bone will be allowed to grow around it or they may be cemented. Whether the prosthetic element will be press fitted or cemented into place will depend on factors such as the quality of the bone around the hip. The decision on which method to use will be taken by the hip expert in Brisbane.

The surgical procedure that involves the surgeon removing the natural ball and socket and replacing them with the prosthetic one will take a few hours. After surgery is over you will be transferred to a recovery room for you to recover from the anesthesia.

Managing the pain

After the surgery, you may have to stay a few more days in hospital during which the leg that has been operated will be held in position to help quick recovery. Expect to feel some discomfort from the pain caused by the surgery. However, the nurses will be there to give your some medication to calm the pain. You will have to manage the pain correctly as this is part of the recovery. If the pain becomes a problem, you may have to talk to your surgeon. As soon as you feel less pain, you can start practicing to walk.

Physical Therapy

After your surgery, you may have to undergo some therapy to help you get back in shape. Most patients will have to walk with the help of a support. They may have to work with a physiotherapist who will teach them simple exercises to strengthen their hips.

Post operation

After the operation, some patients may develop shallow breath as a result of the effect of anesthesia and other medication taken during operation. Such shallow breathing may cause pneumonia due to the collapse of the lungs. Sometimes patients may have to be given a spirometer to help. there will also be a wound and stitches from the operation. These stitches will most probably be removed about two weeks after the surgery.